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GIB BONS G. HICKMAN, OF COATESVILLE, PEN N SY LVANIA. Letters Patent No. 68,742, dated September 10, 1867; amtcdatecl September 7,' 1867.

IMPsovED WASHER ron BOLT.

TO VALL WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN: Y Be it known that I, GIBBONS G. HICKMAN, of Goatesville, in the county oiGhester, and State of llennsyl Vania, have invented a new und improved Washer for Bolts; and I do hereby declare the following to be n. full, clear, and exact description of the same, sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to ,Jhich the invention appertnins to make use of it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which it is represented in two perspective views. t Embedded in the face ot' the washer is a spring, which, by engagement with the edge of the nut, prevents its becoming unscrewed until the spring is depressed. The spring muy be on the. upper face ofthe washer, against which the nut is fitted, or it may be on the lower half' of a double washer, and act against the upper part, to 'which the nut is secured "by Hangers. Underneath the washer is a flange or'spul, which protrudes into t the object against which the washer is clamped by the nut.

In the drawings, A is an object througn which theA bolts are passed, B are the washers, and C the nuts; The object of the invention is to enable the nut' to be screwed np, but to prevent its accidental unscrewing by jars, occasionalblows, or the common incidents which tend to loosen it. For this purpose a spring, b, is placed in a depression in the washer, so that its free end extends above the surface of the washer. The spring is a piece ot' pliable metal, and is attached in the socket of the washer by a. screw, rivet, or analogous contrivance, its free end giving way to the revolution of the nut in screwing down, but opposing its edge to the unscrewing ot' the nut, unless it is purposely held down. It is not desired that the washer shall consist of a thin piece of inetal, but it will be formed of a piece of east or wrought metal, which will permit the spring-'plate to beembedded in its outer face, so asnot to o'er an impediment to the rotation of the nut when screwed on firmly against the face of the washer. The stud or teat c, on `the under side of the washer, penetrates the object kentering' a. hole or indentationV therein, so that'it is not liable to be turned as the nut is rotated. In Figure 1 the spring is insert-ed in a depression in the face Vof the washer. In Figure 2 the washer is divided, forming, in fact, a double washer, B B', the'upper and outer portion B of which moves with the nut after'the latter is depressed sufficiently to be embraced by the flange c, on the upper portion B ofthe washer, which consists of a central circular portion, and projecting flanges d, between which the face of the lowerhalf of the washer is visible. The intervals between the flanges on the portion B' admit of the operation of the spring, which rises .and presents the obstacle ofY its raised end to the unscrewing of the a-nged portion B. l

Having described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is4

The washer B, provided with a spring recessed in its face, and operating substantially as described.

I claim a metal washer made in two separate pieces, the lower one provided with aspring', as described, and the upper one turning with the nut, and retained bythe spring. as described and represented.

To the above specification of my improved washer for bolts I have signed my hand this 26th of Septemloer, 1866.V

G. G. HICKMAN.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, EDWARD H. KNIGHT. 

